‘Gale’ blows the Vics away

A great Oldland team performance in the spring sun beat the Vics.

Oldland came into this fixture on the back of a victory in Wiltshire mid week. However, Oldland was without the injured Lewis Parker as well as both Jack Dempsey and Jack Metcalf through other commitments. They were however boosted by both Luke Troke and Liam Gale being available after missing the mid week trip. Ian Logan Giles also returned to the dug out to assist Manager Scott Armstrong after being away with work commitments mid week. Oldland started the game with the same side which finished the mid week fixture. One change was Josh Williams took unavailable Jack Metcalf’s place.

It was a great day for football with the sun out and pitch having recently been Verti drained to help with the high water table. It was Oldland who started on the front foot and took the game to the visitors looking to revenage the defeat inflicted on them at their place. There was drama from the early on when a tangle of players saw Hughes from Malmesbury shown a red card for a stamp on Luke Lecrass. The marks clearly visible on the midfielders leg however it could on another day deemed as a natural movement to place his foot down. Oldland then created a great chance when forward Jordan Chubb back in the starting 11 beat his man only to force the goalkeeper into a good save down low to his right. The Vics played a high line which the front line struggled for the early stages to stay onside but once mastered chances began to flow. It was play maker Josh Williams who gave the O’s the lead when a great 3rd man run from him saw him enter the box coolly round the goalkeeper to slot home. It was Josh Williams who then became provider with a delightful teasing cross into the box after great link up play in the midfield. The move is was finished off by the on rushing Josh Southway who headed the ball into the net. Liam Gale and Scott Fear tried to get in on the act but their shots either missed the target or was saved by Ant Brown in the Malmesbury goal. Luke Lecrass again started to pull the strings by getting onto the ball and moving it around nicely. Chris Manns and the back four of Donald Soloman (Naddy), Scott Gregory, Andy Criddle and Joe Walters excellently tamed any Vics chances and attacks.

Oldland dominance continued after the break when the busy Liam Gale scored within 2 minutes of the restart. Gale pounced on a poor touch by the Vics full back rounded the Centre half to calmly slot home making it 3-0. This seemed to get the bit between Liam Gales teeth as he soon doubled his tally with a well taken free kick 25 yards out from goal which nestled into the top corner of the net. Oldland players had further chances to increase their lead when Jordan Chubb again forced Brown into a save low to his left. Scott Fear was also having some joy out wide and his teasing cross evaded everyone in the box. Josh Williams had a further chance but he couldn’t quite find the finish which matched his excellent build up play. Josh Southway was next to pass up a couple of chances to increase his tally when one on one with the keeper he chipped the ball into his hands. Southway next chance saw him sit Brown down to then go round him only for the defender to block the ball. The re bound fell to Josh Southway who’s shot then hit the recovering Brown. Oldland did then increase their lead when Liam Gale picked up the ball deep in his own half from Donald Soloman to then run past two Malmesbury Victoria players before smashing the ball into the net making it 5-0. It was Gale again who added the 6th with good link up play in the midfield seeing Gale then play a one two with Alex Chapman who delightfully dinked the ball over the Centre back for Liam Gale to half Volley the ball into the top corner. Oldland were rampant and not happy with their current return and this time it was Liam Gale to turn provider who ran down the line pulled the ball back for the on rushing Alex Chapman who smashed the ball against the bar from 5 yards out only for the rebound to fall to on rushing substitute Owen Badman to give the 18 year old his first goal in Oldland colours.

The result sees Oldland climb up to 8th in the table with important fixtures left to play.

FT- Oldland Abbotonians 7-0 Malmesbury Victoria.

Manager Scott Armstrong had this to say on the performance. “ The lads were terrific today when they could of been tired following our performance at Warminster on Thursday. We have now put ourselves in a great position going into a tough week.”

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